Suffering and the Sovereignty of God, pt. 1 August 26, 2013
The book ofJob is dedicated to all those who suffer loss and pain along the path of life.No story more poignantly illustrates the bitterness and sadness of suffering.The story begins with a description of Job’s incredible prosperity, materiallyand spiritually. But almost immediately (1:4) the scene changes, and we get aglimpse of what’s happening in heaven: God challenges Satan with Job’srighteousness and faithfulness. Satan responds with a challenge of his own: “DoesJob fear God for nothing? Have you not put a hedge around him and his householdand everything he has? Stretch out your hand and strike everything he has, andhe will surely curse you to your face.” (1:9-11)
And so thestage is set for all that follows. God first grants Satan full access to Job’schildren and his possessions, and Satan destroys them all in a single,devastating day. Ultimately, God grants Satan access even to Job’s body, whichhe inflicts with a grotesque and painful skin disease. Even Job’s wife counselshim to “curse God and die” (2:9).
But Job’sresponse to her brings to the fore one of the central themes of the book: “Youare talking like a foolish woman. Shall we accept good from God, and nottrouble?” (2:10) And back when he lost his 10 children and all hispossessions, he responded: “Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and nakedshall I return. The LORD gave, and the LORD has taken away; blessed be the nameof the LORD.” (1:21)
Was Jobwrong in attributing all of his affliction to God? After all, we know thatSatan is at work here, too. No, says the inspired writer, for in both places heaffirms that Job did not sin or charge God with wrong (1:22, 2:10). And just tomake sure we get the point, the writer makes it one more time at the very endof the book: “All Job’s brothers and sisters and everyone who had known himbefore came and ate with him in his house. They comforted and consoled him overall the trouble the LORD had brought upon him. (42:11)
It is notbad theology to say “God has taken away” when we lose a spouse or arelationship or a dream or our health or a job. In fact, this book indicatesthat that is right theology! Why is this such an important point? Staytuned…